imaginative

adjective

i-'ma-jə-nə-tiv How to pronounce imaginative (audio)
Definition of imaginativenext
1
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things an imaginative child who is always writing short stories about her pet cat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing found an imaginative gadget that can grind the beans and heat the water to brew coffee

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imaginative Bat is entranced by the instruction manual written in many languages, while Snake finds endless imaginative uses for the box itself. — Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026 Still, for every resourceful, imaginative low-budget success, there is a bungled movie that aspires, if not to quality, then at least to financial viability, but instead achieves legendary ineptitude. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 The vehicle is inspired by Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko’s 1947 Blue Bull, one of the imaginative animals central to her work. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 That’s because the Valkyries — who are owned by the Golden State Warriors’ Joe Lacob and Peter Guber — have been innovative and imaginative, run more like the Dodgers than the Sparks, who are owned mostly by the same folks as the Dodgers. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imaginative
  1. inventive
  2. innovative
  3. creative
  4. clever
  5. talented
Adjective
  • Texas barbecue is typically defined by salt-and-pepper brisket and pork ribs, but this new crop of halal pitmasters is adding inventive twists, often based on their own family heritages.
    — Ulaa Kuziez, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The wine list is extensive but it sometimes gets shown up by the fresh, inventive cocktails, with a few crafted by the chef’s wife, Diane Mina.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of inventive
Adjective
  • The mission is part of a broader effort led by USSF to leverage the United States’ innovative commercial space industry to improve the service’s ability to respond to security challenges.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • As a result, the company has developed innovative techniques around drill motors, bit designs — the company uses a polycrystalline diamond compact drill bit — and drilling fluids.
    — Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of innovative
Adjective
  • Mercury opposes imaginative Neptune, bringing plenty of creative energy but less agreement about the details.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Glen possesses a rare ability to fuse a world-class creative sensibility with sharp strategic thinking, all driven by a genuine love of cinema.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of creative
Adjective
  • Then an 81-year-old Phil Rizzuto gets into a car and drives off with third base — an especially clever bit, since Rizzuto, as a broadcaster, was famous for leaving early to beat the traffic across the George Washington Bridge.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • It is treated as a quick fix for automation or a clever add-on that makes existing workflows smoother.
    — Tal Dagan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • At the time, Tiafoe was the most talented 10-year-old there, the son of the head maintenance guy, Constant Tiafoe, who had fled civil war in Sierra Leone with his wife.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Business leaders should treat that career growth as an outcome worth producing, not an accidental byproduct of employing talented people.
    — Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of talented

Browse Nearby Words

imagination
imaginative
imaginativeness
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Cite this Entry

“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imaginative. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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